U.N. renews al-Qaida, Taliban sanctions

UNITED NATIONS, June 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council renewed sanctions Monday against named al-Qaida and Taliban members and changed procedures for reviewing the sanctions resolution.

The council revised its procedures to keep the list of named members up-to-date, John Sawers, Britain's permanent representative to the United Nations, said during a news conference. Among the changes are requiring a detailed statement to accompany any requested additions and a full review of all the names during the next to years. The resolution outlining freezing of assets, travel bans and arms embargo was first adopted in 1999.

"We're changing the procedures," Sawers said. "We're moving them forward in response to some of the points that have been made both inside the chamber and beyond."

The United Nations has been criticized and challenged in court over the resolution, Sawers said.

"I think it's right that the Security Council keeps fully up-to-date both the content of the list and above all its procedures so that the way in which individuals' names appear on the list, it addresses some of the concerns that are being made elsewhere," he said.